It is also a great place to get your feet wetif you are not ready to tackle the heart-pounding rapids of the New and Gauley Rivers in neighbouring West Virginia.
If you're a novice looking to get your paddle wet for the first time, consider heading to Thailand for what National Geographic Traveler magazine has called one of the world's top 25 adventures: paddling with Sea Canoe (www.seacanoe.com) in Phang Nga bay, near Phuket.